Lubrication of solvent pumps



1939- E. SODERQUIST 2,

Feb. 7, 1939. E. SODERQUIST LUBRICATION 0F SOLVENT PUMPS Filed June 14, 1 93? 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 w INVENTOR. Leslie 3. Sade? mil wig? M T quzlst ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 7, 1939 PATENT OFFICE LUBRICATION F SOLVENT PUMPS Leslie E. Soderquist, Akron, Ohio, assignor to National Rubber Machinery Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 14, 1937, Serial No. 148,007

. Claims.

This invention relates to a special type of centrifugal pump used in commercial dry cleaning machines for pumping cleaning solvent, such as carbon tetrachloride but obviously may be of 5 much broader application and use.

Dry cleaning solvents as used in dry cleaning machines readily absorb oils and pumps for handling these liquids often develop bearing trouble, due to the lubricating oils being rapidly absorbed in the solvent. Further, these solvents are particularly difficult to seal, which further complicates the bearing problem. As a result of these conditions, pumps of this class are a continual source of trouble and expense, requiring 16 frequent service and replacement.

The particular object of this invention is to provide a centrifugal pump for dry cleaning solvents and the like, that will require only minor and infrequent service, and yet be long lived.

20 Another object is to provide, in a pump for this purpose, a reservoir for a large supply of bearing lubricant, which will be fed automatically, in proper quantity, to the pump bearings. In this connection it should be noted that the 25 lubricant may be fed to the pump shaft bearings at a rate substantially proportional to the load or suction effect of the pump itself and that, by introducing a suitable regulating means such as a valve in the suction line leading from the suction 30 side of the pump to the bearing, the quantity of lubricant supplied per unit of time may be controlled.

And a still further object is to provide a design that is relatively simple and sturdy, so that it 85 may be quickly and properly serviced by inexpert operators.

Other objects and benefits will be disclosed by the following description and drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a broken rear elevation view of a dry 40 cleaning machine, showing the pump and pump motor mounted in the machine, with pipe connections for the solvent;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation view of the pump showing the arrangement of the parts later to be described;

Fig. 3 is a plan sectional view of the pump on section lines 3-3 Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan sectional view on the section 50 lines 4-4 Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation view as seen from the lines 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Now, referring to Fig. 1. I designate the dry cleaner cabinet by the numeral ID; the pump 55 motor by H; the motor drive shaft l2; the pump generally 1 3; the inlet pipe 20; and the outlet pipe 2|.

In Figs. 2 and 3 it will be noted that the motor drive shaft l2 supports and drives the impeller l5 by the shoulder screw connection I3, and the 5 smaller extension 14. It will readily be appreciated that this makes an accurate but sturdy and simple structure, with almost positive alignment with the upper pump housing I6, and motor flange H, which are mounted concentric. In- 10 tegral with the impeller is a flange bearing l5, fitting in the recess l6, and extending upward is the bearing spindle IS" in the gland opening l6".

, A porous bearing and packing material 18 in 15 rings is inserted in the gland opening l6, and is continuously held in proper compressed relation to the spindle I 5" by the male gland member 18', and the spring 19. An oil reservoir 22 of substantial capacity communicates with the porous packing material l8 by openings 23, keeping the packing saturated with oil. The reservoir may be filled through a fill pipe 30 normally closed by a cover 21.

The lower pump housing 24 is bolted to the 25 upper housing in concentric relationship as shown. The opening IS in the upper housing is connected with the pump inlet passageway by a tubing connection 25, the purpose of Which, in conjunction with the other structure, will now be explained.

It will be appreciated that rapid rotation of the impeller l5 will cause suction in the inlet passage-way 20', and this suction communicates to the opening l6 and gland l6", causing oil to be drawn from the reservoir 22 through openings 23, and the packing ring l8, and this lubricates the impeller spindle I5" and I5. The amount of lubrication can readily be adjusted by providing any conventional adjustment for the tension of the spring I!) or by otherwise varying the tightness or the porosity of the packing in the gland l6", to provide ample lubrication, and the large oil reservoir is adequate for a considerable length of time. 'Also a needle valve or the like of any conventional type (not shown) may be placed in line 25 in order to regulate the suction efiect or amount on the packing gland or stufiing box, in turn to regulate the amount of oil flowing to and from the same.

The spring l9 maintains uniform regulated pressure on the packing ring, and at the same time provides quick easy access to the gland in the oil reservoir. When the pump is running, lubricant is drawn into the gland l6" by suction and a suificient amount passes into the annular recess It to provide lubrication for the surfaces 45'. Any excess of lubricant is drawn ofl" by the pipe 25 as is any solvent which may leak past the surfaces l5.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention it will be appreciated and understood that it is of broader application and susceptible of other embodiments and of various changes without departing from the invention spirit and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a pump, a motor, a motor rotor shaft ex- 15 tension mounting the impeller of the pump, means providing a bearing for said shaft extension, a pump housing mounted substantially concentric with the impeller, a lubricating oil reservoir carried by the pump housing, means providing a passage from said reservoir to said bearing means for supplying lubricant to said extension, and connections from the suction side of the pump to said bearing means whereby lubricating oil is supplied to the impeller spindle by suction.

2. In a pump, an impeller, an impeller spindle, a bearing gland having porous packing therein about said spindle, an oil reservoir connected by a passageway to said porous packing, and connections from the packing gland to the suction side of the pump whereby lubricating oil is drawn from the oil reservoir to lubricate the impeller spindle.

3. In a pump, an impeller, an impeller spindle, a bearing gland having porous packing about said spindle, a male gland member in said gland and against said packing, means for urging said gland member against said packing, an oil reservoir communicating with said porous packing, and connections from the packing gland to the suction side of the pump whereby lubricating oil is drawn from the oil reservoir to lubricate the impeller spindle. 4. In a pump for a dry cleaning machine, a motor, a pump shaft, a pump mounted on said shaft, bearing means for said shaft, an oil reservoir, and connections between said reservoir and the suction side of the pump including said bearing means, whereby oil is drawn from said reser LESLIE E. SODERQUIST. 

